tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407Sun, 05 Oct 2014 05:42:30 +0000Cr!key CreekWater cycle, meet media cyclehttp://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)Blogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-5420241124725549766Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:19:00 +00002009-10-09T20:21:07.895+13:00Our addiction to PJoining the dots of P addiction and overdosing. Over at the new Crikey Creek.http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/our-addiction-to-p.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-3805948501818931524Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:19:00 +00002009-10-08T23:33:53.633+13:00On the move to Sciblogs.co.nzThe Science Media Centre has done a wonderful thing. They have created science blogging community over at Sciblogs.co.nz. Around 30 NZ bloggers are there, including myself.Crikey Creek's new home is: http://sciblogs.co.nz/crikey-creek/.Sciblogs is modelled after ScienceBlogs.com. It's hosted by the Science Media Centre, the arm of the Royal Society of New Zealand that focuses on science http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-move-to-sciblogsconz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-2704791601851994328Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:17:00 +00002009-09-23T07:58:33.833+12:00This week in waterAfter a prolonged sabbatical, we now return to regular programming with a condensed account of events that transpired in the last week or so.Bangladesh's first lifeguards are being trained by Australian counterparts. 17,000 children drown each year in the country, out of a total population of 133 million. Adding some perspective, perhaps 3,000 people (adults included) die each year from arsenic http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/this-week-in-water.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-1531721684549760424Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:03:00 +00002009-07-02T20:04:30.520+12:00Landslide Prediction Gone to the BirdsBoth earthquakes and heavy rainfall are typical triggers of landslides. But if you want to know when the hills are safe again, attach tracking sensors to the birds. The beak knows."GNS Science specialists carried out an examination of the Hipaua thermal area this morning.Eleven metal pins were placed in historically unstable parts of the hill yesterday to monitor for any signs of movement, and http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/landslide-prediction-gone-to-birds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-1423619044166757283Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:47:00 +00002009-07-02T21:25:03.016+12:00I Report, I DecideIf journalists covered hydrological science here in NZ, either insightfully or ineptly, I'd observe that. But since they don't (much), I am forced - forced, I tell you - to observe how they cover climate change.Now don't get me wrong. I will happily give kudos do those who cover science well. But I am also quite happy to point out when science is not covered well. My reasoning is not to merely http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-report-i-decide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-689108428060907246Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:48:00 +00002009-07-02T18:39:13.776+12:00NZ Science Blog RankingsHalfdone has listed its June assessment of NZ blog rankings. Since I'm all about measurements being the basis of knowledge, I find it of some interest. But popularity or accidental web visits do not translate into successful communication, and that's what I care about in terms of blogging.In any case, this being a science blog, here's what I think are the ranked science or science journalism http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/nz-science-blog-rankings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-8612061033275177398Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:10:00 +00002009-06-29T21:16:33.358+12:00New Poll: Is water footprinting a threat to NZ trade?Following on from the previous poll, which asked whether virtual water accounting helped consumers make sustainable choices (most said "yes"), I am now interested in your thoughts on the risks to trade - New Zealand trade.Again, share your thoughts in the comments, both Kiwis and internationals, farmers and others.http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-poll-is-water-footprinting-threat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-1785144332215547921Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:53:00 +00002009-06-29T20:57:37.015+12:00Good Media, Bad MediaScience communication is tough. You need to know the science; you need to know how to communicate. What I think is an excellent recent example of both is Tapu Misa's column in the NZ Herald the other day, and on the diabolical topic of uncertainty no less."Contrary to popular perception, science doesn't always deal in 100 per cent certainty."And she continues..."It's easy to see why we http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/good-media-bad-media.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-8008061353203734944Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:43:00 +00002009-06-28T20:46:16.926+12:00The Evolution of Numerical ModelsAll models are wrong, but some are useful, as George Box so eloquently said. They are generally not created useful, however, but evolved through trail and error.Take as an example a recent story from UC-Boulder. Scientists there were comparing how a climate model staked up to real-world expectations, but were surprised when they get conflicting results - it didn't rain enough."If you don't get http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/evolution-of-numerical-models.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-9192347316629103540Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:47:00 +00002009-06-28T17:44:59.474+12:00MAF: Meat and Climate ChangeThe Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) recently released a report on the opportunities and challenges facing NZ's meat sector over the next 15 years. They identified five mega-trends with distinct relevance to the sector: changing demographics and wealth; food, image and beliefs; globalisation; climate change; and increased pressure on the natural resource base.The Bull Pen, Homepaddock http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/maf-meat-and-climate-change.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-9158355694095741248Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:15:00 +00002009-06-25T20:28:48.603+12:00Ouachita Floodplain Reforestation VideoFollowing from this morning's post on the Mississippi, here's a video (8 minutes) on the Louisiana floodplain reforestation project that I mentioned.It doesn't actually show a levee breach, but does convey a lot of the thoughts surrounding the reversion of the landscape quite nicely:"I'd like for my descendants to see it reforested, revegetated and to produce wildlife as it did when I was a younghttp://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/ouachita-floodplain-reforestation-video.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-7535002692020608269Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:28:00 +00002009-06-25T08:39:28.145+12:00Post-Modern MississippiIn his book, The Control of Nature, John McPhee wrote about how the US Army Corps of Engineers tamed the mighty Mississippi. And how people's lives are consumed at keeping it tamed. Levees were built, flow control structures installed, all for the sake of the economy. The Mississippi waters were threatening, and in fact still are, to leave the lower Mississippi channel and flow down a more http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/post-modern-mississippi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-2147122323547453590Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:25:00 +00002009-06-24T19:27:44.790+12:00Climate Models Falling ShortWe are told time and time again that model projections of the climate this century include changes in rainfall, more droughts, and more floods. But we have to wonder if they can accurately predict these things if they can't even get this basic phenomenon right. There must be something fishy going on. And I blame the Japanese supercompueters.[H/T: Boing Boing]http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/climate-models-falling-short.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-7115693929549176031Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:06:00 +00002009-06-24T19:07:40.905+12:00Time-Lapsed Environmental ChangeOne of my favourite images in hydrology - or ecohydrology - is the juxtaposition of a small stomate with the shrinking Aral Sea.Post-war Soviet Union planted a lot of cotton in the region, irrigating it with water that would have flowed into the sea. And as the cotton stomata proliferated and opened their micrometre-size apertures, the Aral sea dried up and closed its 1000 kilometre-size http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/time-lapsed-environmental-change.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-5068381014360866040Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:03:00 +00002009-06-23T22:13:06.225+12:00Dual-Use Dams in UgandaWhen I was in Uganda last year I nearly went to Karamoja in the north east. I vetoed it on account of WFP trucks being shot at. Karamoja is chronically water-stressed, but has some mountainous terrain that is also paradoxically the origin of flood waters for downstream areas. From my vantage point a little to the south, and from discussions with Uganda Red Cross personnel, one solution was http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/dual-use-dams-in-uganda.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-3889070516668799842Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:54:00 +00002009-06-23T19:59:06.992+12:00NZ's Water War: Farmers v. AnglersThere are a number of battle lines drawn in New Zealand's waterways, the most visible is the one between the Federated Farmers (an organisation that lobbies on behalf of member farmers) and Fish and Game (a statutory body that lobbies on behalf of recreational fishers). The two are adversaries because of the effects agriculture has in degrading waterways, and hence fish population.Essentially, http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/nzs-water-war-farmers-v-anglers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-1849419396191935613Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:55:00 +00002009-06-22T21:59:56.032+12:00The Water-Media Cycle in Action!Back in March I postulated the existence of the coupled water-media cycle, as depicted in the above-right diagram. And thanks to an astute colleague, we now have proof!Media reports condenseThe Pasadena-Star News ran an opinion piece on June 13 in which it described opposing mentalities of water use in southern California.Coverage precipitates thinkingJournalist John Fleck picked up on a http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/water-media-cycle-in-action.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-1766099373084008735Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:35:00 +00002009-06-22T18:36:10.977+12:00Declining Water Quality in New ZealandA report just out, commissioned by MfE and produced by NIWA, describes the trends in water quality in NZ's waterways since 1989. (NZ Herald coverage.) Here are some key findings:There were strong increasing trends in four nutrients (total phosphorus, dissolved reactive phosphorus, oxidised nitrogen and total nitrogen). There are strong correlations between these trends and the percentage of http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/declining-water-quality-in-new-zealand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-2448475358174673457Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:49:00 +00002009-06-22T07:51:50.934+12:00As Seen in NZ HydroSoc's NewsletterHere's a shout out to the editor of the NZ Hydrological Society's newsletter, Current, for publishing my reportage (reproduced below) on the cause of Canterbury's declining water table. It's good to see some aren't afraid to publish hard-hitting, controversial science."Christchurch, NZ - Environment Canterbury, the area's regional council, has concluded that the dropping aquifer levels in the http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/as-seen-in-nz-hydrosocs-newsletter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-4661610293901468918Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:38:00 +00002009-06-22T00:02:38.109+12:00New Poll: The Utility of Virtual WaterDoes knowing a product's virtual water content help consumers make sustainability-based decisions?Look to the right and tell us what you think. I'm starting down a new path and would appreciate your thoughts.http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-poll-utility-of-virtual-water.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-4057342075960905439Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:44:00 +00002009-06-21T13:55:55.142+12:00Federated Farmers Official Unwittingly Linked to RMA ViolationTwo farms in Canterbury co-owned by the Federated Farmers dairy vice-chairman, Willy Leferink, have been charged for breaching the Resource Management Act. Specifically, for allowing effluent to pond, risking contamination of the groundwater. It should be noted, however, that the violation was due to a former staff member, not Leferink himself. Leferink commended Environment Canterbury for "doinghttp://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/federated-farmers-official-unwittingly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-8833610916138978144Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:24:00 +00002009-06-21T15:28:03.662+12:00Rafael Bras on the Complexity and Simplicity of HydrologyIn the words of Rafael Bras:"Life is complicated, but if you give me enough degrees of freedom, I'm going to give you a simple answer, and for that matter a fairly universal answer."In his valedictory lecture at MIT, March 30, Rafael Bras, one of the world's leading hydrologists, and my former PhD adviser, shares his knowledge and enthusiasm about hydrology and its role in shaping the world http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/rafael-bras-on-complexity-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-475407649551351875Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:01:00 +00002009-06-21T10:02:38.014+12:00Kiwi Science BloggingSo, how do us Kiwi science bloggers represent? Not so well. By far the greatest portion of Kiwi blogging bandwidth is taken up by politics - partisan politics. That's understandable. Anyone can get fired up about politics, with their local nuances, while science is more universal. Halfdone colour-codes the politicos to illustrate. Chicken or the Egg has a listing of science blogs, while Open http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/kiwi-science-blogging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-3139205880613207998Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:41:00 +00002009-06-13T20:19:35.494+12:00Trashing bottled waterIt's pretty common among the hydroblogs to criticise bottled water. More water is used to produce the bottle than is contained in the bottle... their production and provision consumes heaps of energy...And here's another reason: they produce more rubbish. Do not fear Venecians, the mayor is on the case.(For completeness, though, bottled water does have its positive sides, and I'm not talking http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/trashing-bottle-water.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3809898030701959407.post-1201964134870949953Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:17:00 +00002009-06-13T19:18:44.205+12:00Not an exact sciencePhilip Duncan, the NZ Herald's weather analyst, informs us that weather forecasting is not an exact science. In the common sense of "exact science", no it's not. But being surprised by the statement made me wonder: What *is* an exact science? Can a science be "exact"? And where on earth did the idiom come from?Well, I can't think of any exact sciences, in the sense that they are devoid of http://crikeycreekblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/not-exact-science.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Daniel Collins)1